Scottish poetry is a powerful, beautiful expression of Country and Culture. It’s proud history includes such figures as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and many other illustrious figures. This volume of poetry is a perfect compendium of the words and works of Scotland.

It is a good mix of authors and reads with everything well read. Pro and a con is that it's a series of poems with minimal introduction or commentary. There is no interference with the poems but I would also like to learn more about them too.

The Eye of Zoltar

Although she's an orphan in indentured servitude, 16-year-old Jennifer Strange is pretty good at her job of managing the unpredictable crew at Kazam Mystical Arts Management. She already solved the Dragon Problem, avoided mass destruction by Quarkbeast, and helped save magic in the Ununited Kingdoms. Yet even Jennifer may be defeated when the long-absent Mighty Shandar makes an astonishing appearance and commands her to find the Eye of Zoltar.

I started this book fearing the third book in the series may have gone a bit soft (as some of the late Thursday Next books seem stretching). It seemed like some rapidly repeated schtick but that ended up being the reestablishment of the continued story line. The book then quickly shifted to good fresh Fforde story telling. Always inventive and fun with plenty for the mind to chew on. Narration is as good as previous Dragon Slayers. Good use of accents and voices.

Edge of Eternity: The Century Trilogy, Book 3

Throughout these books, Follett has followed the fortunes of five intertwined families - American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh - as they make their way through the twentieth century. Now they come to one of the most tumultuous eras of all: the enormous social, political, and economic turmoil of the 1960s through the 1980s, from civil rights, assassinations, mass political movements and Vietnam to the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, presidential impeachment, revolution - and rock and roll.

The is a great book in a great trilogy. John lee is always a great narrator. Like most of Ken Follett's books he seems compelled to include just a bit too much sex with just a bit too much detail. (Nearing soft core erotica) Minus the copious, graphic sex I would say it is a must read for teens. The trilogy follows the world in a fantastically interlaced story of the 20th century.

It seems he does seem to credit communism for its own self destruction and to depict all on the right as craven criminals while mistakes of the left are hopeful misjudgments.

The Miniaturist

On a brisk autumn day in 1686, 18-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office - leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.

The book is well narrated though there were times I had trouble keeping the dialogue straight based on the voices.

As for the story it is very good. The character development at the beginning was a bit slow but needed. The story is well illustrated in words and sufficiently detailed to depict the period. The content is at times distressing and a discussion on moral debate, love (marriage, family, friendship), prejudges, greed, ambition, and personal growth. (The human condition)

Prince of Fire

Now Allon is back in Venice, when a terrible explosion in Rome leads to a disturbing personal revelation: the existence of a dossier in terrorist hands that strips away his secrets, lays bare his history.

The story is good and is key to back story for Gabriel and the office crew. As for the narration, it is well read and I would listen to other books with him but he does Hebrew and Arabic accents poorly and it can be distracting.

The book seemed to me to be an enjoyable stream of consciousness. It was very well read but hard to follow. This would be better read than listened to. Seemed hard to follow and I ended up backing up to figure out the current setting several times. In the end I resigned myself to not closely following the story and just enjoying the dialog.

Bleak House

First published in monthly parts from March 1852 to September 1853, this novel follows the fortunes of three pedestrian characters; Esther Summerson, Ada Clare, and Richard Carstone. The story they tell embondies Dickens' merciless indictment of the Court of Chancery and its bungling, morally corrupt handling of the endless case of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, giving the novel its scope and meaning.

Simon Vance always gives a book it's justice and he does the same here. As for the book it is a good Dickens novel. I found that it took longer for the characters to shakeout. There was a larger than normal number of characters and not being able to flip back to see "which person is this" did hamper following the book.

Beowulf

Written a thousand years ago, this long poem is the very first surviving piece of English literature. Join Beowulf, a young warrior, as he achieves glory by fighting and killing three fantastic monsters. This new translation, by the Nobel laureate poet Seamus Heaney, offers modern listeners an accessible, intensely dramatic text. It amply demonstrates why this epic has spread its influence over more than a millennium of literature.

This book is well read and does a good job at bringing the text to life. The part that most intrigued me was the essay by the author at the close of the book. His explanation of his translation was fascinating and illuminated the often told story even move.

Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World

The Dalai Lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, here elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way. Transcending the mere "religion wars", he outlines a system of secular ethics that gives tolerant respect to religion, those that ground ethics in a belief in God and an afterlife, and those that understand good actions as leading to better states of existence in future lives. And yet, with the highest level of spiritual and intellectual authority, the Dalai Lama makes a claim for what he calls a third way.

There is a lot to digest in 4.5 hours. It will take several passes to take in the meat of the arguments. Narration was good and not intrusive. His rhythm, pitch and rate are supportive of the content and allows the Dali Lama to come though. While the book is short it is about right concidering the depth of content. If it were any longer it would become tedious and tiring.

The Time Keeper

From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most imaginative novel yet, The Time Keeper--a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours.

It will take several more passes before I get a hold of all this short book's content. It does take a bit to establish the story. While there are specific lessons to learn, I think there is room left to come to your own conclusions and learn your own lessons.

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